A Weekend in
The New Forest
Reviewed by Jenny Bennett
My husband and I are working parents to a three-year-old firecracker so when What’s Good To Do offered us the chance to spend a child free weekend in the New Forest we practically bit their hands off!
We took a drive down to Burley and started our weekend of fun with cycle hire from Forest Leisure Cycling. The store is really easy to find in the centre of Burley and they offer a wide range of bikes including Electric Bikes, Tandem Bikes, Road Bikes and Suspension Bikes as well as children’s bikes, child seats, trailers and even dog trailers. We were treated to a couple of Marin hybrid bikes which took a bit of getting used to as they are a cross between a road and an off road bike but they were by far one of the most comfortable bikes I’ve ever ridden.
The chap in the shop asked how tall we were to match us up with the right size bike and asked if we needed any bags or helmets. He then asked how long we wanted to be out and gave us a map for the Woodland Trail which is an 8.5 mile route through the Forestry Commission woodland nearby to Burley. They have a choice of 9 different routes ranging from 5 miles to 32 miles that all have individual maps and are clearly signposted – we really enjoyed the Woodland Trail and we were back at the base within a couple of hours.
If, like me, you aren’t a regular cycler I’d really recommend the Woodland Trail – it’s relatively flat and very pretty. You can also detour via the pub if you find yourself thirsty on the way round!
The whole process of hiring the bikes were so easy and the levels of customer service at Forest Leisure Cycling are excellent. If you find yourself in the area I would highly recommend popping in to see them and exploring the local area on one of their comfortable and well-priced bikes.
Cycle ride done and a well-deserved pint later we went to check into Burley Manor which was our accommodation for the evening.
Burley Manor is a beautiful hotel which dates back to 1852 and has recently undergone a huge refurbishment to its rooms and restaurant. Just driving up to the place makes you feel peaceful – it is a magnificent building that overlooks a Red Deer Sanctuary. We were warmly greeted at reception and shown to our room which was one of the Burley Suites overlooking the garden.
We were warmly greeted in the small reception area and shown to our room. The walk through the hotel was interesting as you can see the different parts of the property both old and new. The restaurant in particular is beautiful – warm and cosy on the inside area and bright and light in the conservatory.
The room we were shown to excellent – light, airy and well furnished. It was very comfortable with a huge Hypnos bed, tea and coffee making facilities, bottles of water, ensuite bathroom, DAB radio and TV, separate seating area and a private terrace. You also get a little jar of cookies to go with your cup of tea but I recommend hiding these on arrival so you don’t have to share them with your travelling companion – they are delicious!
We had some time in the room to enjoy a cup of tea on the terrace while we watched the deer run around and I enjoyed a long and relaxing shower under the waterfall shower in the compact but well organised bathroom.
We had a table for dinner reserved at 8:00pm and based on the quality of the cookies alone we were very excited to see what would be available.
We walked through to the restaurant and a friendly member of the restaurant team showed us to our table in the conservatory. While we waited for our drinks we were able to watch the deer from our seats and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere in the room. They’ve managed to balance a formal eating place with a friendly vibe – no need to whisper!
The menu is quite small but there is a good range of starters, sharing dishes, larger plates and sides to sample. The wine list is much larger and they have an in house Sommelier who can help you choose a wine to match your meal – I’d highly recommend the Spy Valley as an insider tip.
We decided to thrown caution to the wind and go for a full three courses – we’d earned it after cycling all that way! I started with grilled asparagus and my husband had the quail, we followed that delicious starter with a steak and a beef stew that was perfectly cooked. The portion sizes for both these dishes is pretty large so make sure you bring a good appetite. To finish up my husband had the ice cream and I went for the ultimate indulgence that was a chocolate and rum fondue that came with berries and sweets to dip in it.
The meal, the staff and the service at Burley Manor were excellent – if you are in the area and in need of a hotel or a good meal I’d recommend them for both.
We headed off for bed and had a simply wonderful night sleep in the gigantic bed and awoke the next morning feeling refreshed and ready for a new adventure.
The weather was bright and sunny so we had breakfast on the terrace overlooking the park – the breakfast menu has many delicious choices we found it to be an excellent start to the day.
We checked out and waved farewell to Burley Manor – we had a brilliant stay and I’d recommend it to anyone. Burley is in a lovely part of the New Forest and Burley Manor is a great place to explore the local area from. Any hotel that gives you home-made gorgeous cookies in the room is worth a visit for that alone but if you take into account the warm and friendly service, comfortable rooms and beautiful surroundings it all adds up to a wonderful hotel.
Our next and final New Forest Adventure for today was archery lessons with New Forest Activities. We took a short but pretty drive down to Beaulieu and met with our friendly instructor Chris who ran us through our safety information and checks quickly but thoroughly and within 20 minutes we were firing our first arrows.
I’ve not done archery before and neither has my husband but with such good instruction we had a fantastic time and were soon hitting the golds. Archery is much harder than it looks and you really have to switch everything else off and concentrate on what you are doing – it’s also much more physical as you have to have the right posture and breathing technique.
The session lasted 90 minutes there were 7 of us to 1 instructor and this ratio was good as it meant we could have one on one time with Chris but also time on our own to shoot and correct.
At £22 per adult the lessons are really good value and the teaching methods are spot on – Chris was informed, patient and personable. We had a really good time and have even looked into local archery clubs as a result of the time we spent.
We had a brilliant weekend in the New Forest – it’s a spectacular destination and we will be back. From the famous ponies to the stunning landscapes to the friendly people and plethora of activities to take part in, it’s somewhere we anticipate visiting for many years on our own and with our family.
Rating: 5/5 
For more information on things to do in the New Forest, including activities and accommodation, visit www.thenewforest.co.uk.
